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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Joseph Osei" <mr.josephosei2012@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mr.joseph_osei2012@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2012 22:54:01 +0800 (HKT)
Subject: GENUINE/URGENCY

I am Mr. Joseph Osei, the branch manager of the International Commercial
Bank, Kaneshie First Light Branch Accra Ghana, I have urgent and very
confidential business proposition for you. I got your contact from my
private search for a reliable and trusted foreign partner.

On June 6 2006 an American oil consultant/contractor with the Ghana
National Oil Company, Mr. Jack Kelly made a numbered time (Fixed)
deposited for twelve calendar months, valued at US$10,000,000.00 (Ten
Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we
sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers,
Ghana National Oil Company that Mr. Jack Kelly died from an automobile
accident. On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a
WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore
made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Jack Kelly did not
declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including his Bank
Deposit paperwork.

This sum of US$10,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest
is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No
one will come forward to claim it. According to the Ghanaian Law, at the
expiration of 8{eight} years, the money will revert to the ownership of
the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand
in as the next of kin to Mr. Jack Kelly so that the fruits of this old
man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government
officials.

This is simple;

(1) I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and
address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and
affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin. (2) We shall
employ the services of two attorneys for drafting and notarization of the
WILL and obtain the necessary documents and letter of
probate/administration in your name for the transfer. (3) A bank account
in any part of the world, which you provide, will then facilitate the
transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin of Mr. Jack
Kelly.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of
60% for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork
for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the
Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.
If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email
address above. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more
details and relevant documents that will help you understand. Please
observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your
assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and regards,
Mr. Joseph Osei

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